Game-preservation advocate Clemens Istel has criticised Sony over its expected move away from physical disc support, arguing that it shows poor understanding of customers’ desire to retain control of games they buy. He says the shift could further weaken ownership rights, make games more dependent on online services and reduce competition in console-game pricing.

Istel, who runs the preservation database Does It Play and works with Stop Killing Games, said 34% of physical PS5 games and 50% of tested Xbox Series X games already cannot fully function without a download. He argues that discs preserve playable launch versions and allow resale, while DRM-free PC stores such as GOG offer a more durable alternative; nevertheless, he expects physical media to survive outside the mainstream.